It wasn’t Watford at their best, Slavisa Jokanovic acknowledges that, but the Hornets head coach believes his side’s 3-0 victory over Rotherham United helped his players “recapture” the confidence that was dented by Saturday’s loss to Norwich City.
A brace from Odion Ighalo and a Troy Deeney goal saw off the Millers at Vicarage Road this evening and provided the ideal response to the weekend disappointment.
“We gave a reaction to Saturday,” Jokanovic said after tonight's win. “It was a complicated game for us. After the first 45 minutes I can’t be very happy.
“We didn’t have a real advantage in the game. After we scored the second goal though it was easier for us.
“We scored three goals and could have got more goals. In the end I have to be happy with our performance.”
He continued: “(Today) we recaptured our confidence and mentality. We have started again to believe our possibilities but it is important now that we don’t stop.
“In three days we have a new game and I don’t know how we will do, there can only be three results.
“But no matter what happens nothing will be decided. In front of us in 13 games and we have two and a half months, or three, of the season to play.
“So it is important to just think about our chance now. There is no point thinking about next season. We must always push harder to reach our possibility.
“I am not interested in where we, and I, am in June or July. I will be either here for pre-season, or with another club or with my family on a beach somewhere.
“I am only focused on what is happening now. Now is our chance and this is the moment where we must be strong.”
Jokanovic decided to name four centre-backs in his starting XI to combat the direct approach from Rotherham.
It meant Craig Cathcart and Tommie Hoban played at right and left back respectively but the Hornets boss was pleased with how they adapted.
He said: “We tried to find a solution to deal with the direct game Rotherham wanted to play. They play many long balls and we have had problems against this style in other games.
“Today we tried taller players across the defence and changed the structure of the team a little bit. That resolved our problems and we kept a clean sheet.
“It wasn’t easy for us and that is why we decided to make those changes.
“They (Cathcart and Hoban) did well. They helped us perfectly. They understood exactly what we needed today during the game.”
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